Replies

1. 
   woodensplinter | Feb 09, 2005 01:32am | #1

   Read a test, a while back, on 14 inch bandsaws for resawing.  The claim was the Ridgid was ok for occasional (minimal) use.  The motor's too small.  Go for something with a 1 hp motor.  If you plan on using a riser block and resawing thick material, you're probably even better off with a 1 1/2 horse model.

1. 
   dude | Feb 21, 2005 09:14pm | #2

   got one a year ago . I also got the riser block kit . It sure cut wet oak nice using a Lee Valley resaw blade . I forgot to mention I also got the  ridged add-on fence.

   no wander  using the 3tpi blade

1. 
   woodensplinter | Feb 23, 2005 12:08am | #3

   Well, there you go!  I'm not going to argue with experience.

2. 
   RBpel | Feb 23, 2005 01:38am | #4

   Dude, did you just get the riser kit from Rigid or did you find another 'brand' that was the same?  I would like to get the kit but no stores carry them around here.

   thx, Ron

1. 
   dude | Feb 23, 2005 09:02am | #5

   Got the kit at home depot on sale  at about the same time as I bought the saw.

   At the time  I wasent  sure exactly  what it did but the price was right  for a tool freak

   You have to buy  longer blades also I recall one came with it

   The  length called for is 105 1/2 but lee valleys Inca 104 1/4  fits

1. 
   woodypa | Feb 27, 2005 04:34am | #6

   I had a lot of vibration with mine.  Replaced the blade, trued the tires, replaced the tires with urethane, stiffened the base with a 3/4" thick plywood sub-base, added a link belt, and meticulously balanced the wheels with copper wire.  These were suggestions from members of the Ridgid forum.  These modifications reduced the vibration, but it was still inadequate.  I finally ordered replacement wheels from Emerson (the older model manufacturer) and that got rid of the vibrations.  I wasn't very happy with the 4 month experience.  I probably should have returned the saw.  In the end I determined that a majority of the problem came from a poorly designed base (even though it is heavy gage sheet metal) and significantly out of balance and out of round wheels.

   Dust collection is pretty poor.  The port is 2.5" for a shop vac, and it reduces to about 2.5" x 1/2" at the lower blade guide.  I added 4" port to the bottom wheel cover and tied the two together.  It works much better when attached directly to a small dust collector. 

   I did get the riser block and fence when I purchased the saw.  The saw, fence, and riser block came to $370 total.  I have heard some other people complain about vibration.  I think that their new asian manufacturer had some problems with the wheels being problematic.  They probably only test a small sampling of a production run.  Anyway, mine works well now.  I have resawed some oak up to 6" with a 1/2" 4 tpi Delta Premium blade.  Not the best results, but I am confident that a better choice of blade for resawings would have better results. 

   I believe Rikon has a nice 14" saw.  I would take a serious look at that saw.